The global cruise industry is showing “continued progress” in advancing its environmental and sustainability agenda.
That is according to industry representative body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which has published its latest annual Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report.
CLIA points to investments in ships and technologies for the update of transitional and alternative fuels as two of the main indicators of progress.
“Cruise lines are continuing to reduce their emissions at sea and at berth in pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association.
“This year’s environmental technologies report demonstrates their progress, with the industry investing in engine technologies with conversion capabilities that will allow ships to use more renewable energy sources as they become available and making important incremental steps to employ a range of other environmental technologies and practices to advance the industry’s wider sustainability initiatives.”
CLIA member cruise lines are investing in new ships and engines that allow for fuel flexibility. This includes capability to use renewable biodiesel, investments in the capability to use green methanol when available, and liquified natural gas (LNG). Ships designed with engines and fuel supply systems able to operate on LNG will be able to switch to zero and near-zero fuels such as bio or synthetic LNG in the future, with no engine modifications.
Highlights from the industry’s 2024 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report include:
Fleet Profile
- The CLIA member ocean fleet includes 303 ships and a total capacity of 635,000 lower berths operated by 45 cruise line brands representing 90% of capacity — an increase of 3.6% and 3.34% respectively, compared to the prior year.
- Analysis of the current CLIA member cruise line fleet indicates that the majority of ocean-going ships operated by CLIA member cruise lines are small to mid-size ships, with ship size distribution across the fleet as follows:
- 35% of ships are small ships (fewer than 1,000 lower berths)
- 38% of ships are mid-size ships (1,000 to fewer than 3,000 lower berths)
- 26% of ships are large ships (upwards of 3,000 lower berths)
